Battle of Osun: APC, PDP, UPN flex muscles over August 9 gov election

Battle of Osun: APC, PDP, UPN flex muscles over August 9 gov election

Against the backdrop of the unveiling of the timetable for the governorship election in Osun State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in these interviews by OLUWOLE IGE, stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) give reasons their respective parties will carry the day on August 9. Excerpts:

APC has already made our job easy —Ojo Williams, head, Osun PDP legal team
 
What is the level of the preparation of the PDP for the governorship election coming up in Agust?
We are prepared more than ever. The PDP in Osun State is unique in many ways. In the South-West, we are about the most cohesive and unified. We don’t have any rancour among us, unlike other states’ chapters, and this has given us a head start for the governorship election coming up in August. By the grace of God, we are going to win. Really, we must thank the APC for doing half of the job for us. They have performed so badly and actually done everything necessary for the opposition to use for their campaign. Look at the school system he has muddled! A lot of people are begging the PDP to come to their rescue. Another thing is the road projects which the governor did not commence three years ago only to start mobilising bulldozers and heavy-duty equipment to sites six months to election. Osun people are not fools. He has done 50 per cent of the job of winning for the PDP because of his colossal failures.

Do you believe that INEC can conduct free and fair election?
That is the fear of everybody in the state today. The electorate are worried about the continued presence of the incumbent Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Oluwatoyin Akeju. The man is labouring under a federal high court judgment in Osogbo which said that in 2011, he was a card-carrying member of ACN, now APC, and there is no way he can be an impartial umpire. That judgment is yet to be upturned. We have no confidence in his impartiality as far as the PDP in Osun State is concerned. The fear is even more worrisome on the part of the electorate. What is the interest of Professor Attahiru Jega (Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman) in retaining the man in Osun State? If he does not have any ulterior motive, the INEC chairman should transfer him to another state. We are more than ready for this election, but we need an impartial arbiter.


Are you nursing any fear that the election may be marred by any form of violence?
Elections in Osun State have always been free and fair. Even when Chief Bisi Akande was there as governor, the election of 2003 was hitch-free because once the people of Osun State have made up their minds, they don’t need to resort to violence; they would rather wait for the election day to prove their point. But we are calling on the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police here to be on the alert in ensuring that people using train to bring people from Lagos are closely monitored. We have a list of premises in this state where people from Lagos come habitually to take two or three days’ rest with weapons and when they suspect that the police are on their trail, they would disappear for another three or four weeks.


Why we are confident of victory —Kunle Oyatomi, Osun APC’s Director of Media  
How prepared is the APC in Osun State for the August 9, 2014 governorship election?
The APC is in Osun State will work for the progress of the state. That is a political assignment, on which the people of the state will make judgment as to whether or not we kept faith with their mandate. The mandate given us by the Osun people was to execute the six-point integral action plan which we presented to them before they voted us into office.

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The question now is: did we fulfil their mandate or not? Yes, we believe we did and that gives us absolute confidence that the people are happy with us. We have nothing to fear about the August election because what we have done is evident all over the state. If you wrote an examination very well, you would be sure of success, and that is our position.

Do you envisage the conduct of a free, fair and credible election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)?
As of this moment, doubts as to whether or not INEC will be faithful to its promise to conduct free, fair and credible election exist. The election in Anambra State was not a confidence-building exercise. But we would like to be optimistic that INEC has learnt critical lessons from that flawed election. It is to that extent of our optimism that we will like to give INEC the benefit of the doubt and repose confidence in it that it will perform better than it did in Anambra State.

There are fears that the election may be marred by violence and manipulations by desperate politicians. What is your view?
We are not unaware of that. However, we are not afraid. The election will come, those who are born to be violent will be violent, and those who have the spirit of omoluabi in their veins will be law abiding. The majority of the people of Osun State are peaceful people and we have the capacity through lawfulness to neutral violence. Fortunately, security arrangement in the state is first class. We have confidence in the law enforcement agents, and there is no reason yet to doubt that the presidency intends to ensure that the election will be free and fair.

Will the APC conduct a primary election for the emergence of its standard-bearer despite the interest expressed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola for a second term?
The APC is a democratic organisation. We will not stop any of our members who think he has a chance in the primaries against Aregbesola. What we will do is to ensure that the best person emerges.

Do you think your party has the potential to win the poll?
Barring political shenanigans, we will win comprehensively. There is a saying that the taste of the pudding is in the eating. We have served our pudding to the Osun people. No other government has ever done what we have done for the people. The world recognises it. The Peoples Democratic Party-controlled Federal Government knows it. And the people of the State of Osun are rejoicing about it. So, what other potential for victory do you need?



We are APC’s real nightmare in Osun —Segun Akinwusi, governorship candidate of UPN  
How prepared is your party for the gubernatorial election?
The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) is a very serious party. The people behind the party are serious-minded individuals and those on board are responsible and serious people. We brought this party to Osun State about six months ago and today, I have the confidence to tell you that we are in all the 30 local government areas of the state. So, right now, we are very much prepared for the governorship election.

Do you believe in the capability of INEC to organise an election that will be acceptable to all?
That is a very fundamental issue. I hope INEC will conduct a free and fair election, but I have a probable fear. I do not have anything against Professor Jega. He is a hardworking and forthright gentleman. However, some people around him will need to be put in check. Many people have complained about the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), including the PDP. The fear is that he has not been doing his work honestly and transparently to earn the confidence and trust of the people. If only INEC can remove or redeploy such people before they do any damage. Except for this lack of trust in the state’s REC, we expect that INEC should be able to conduct a credible poll. The man should be redeployed.

Are you afraid that the election may be disrupted through violence and other malpractices?
I am not desperate or violent, so, I do not expect any violence. We are calling on the security agencies, including the Department of the State Security (DSS), to map out strategies to gather intelligence. There have been rumours that some people are training militants in this state. These are speculations that need to be properly investigated by the security agents. We are not violent in our party and we do not want to be involved in any violence. But I cannot vouch for any of the political parties we are contesting with.

Can your party record victory in the poll, considering the fact that it is relatively new, coming on board only about six months ago?
There is no problem in that regard. We are very much prepared. The UPN, by its name, is not new to the people of the state. They know who the progenitor or the founder of the party was. When you bring the picture of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, out, it catches attention anywhere. Notwithstanding the shortness of time we have come on board, this party is virtually everywhere and we are embraced by the people. We do not have any shortcoming or disadvantage coming this late. On the contrary, it is the political party in control that is afraid of UPN. We are the main opposition party in Osun State because we are giving the government a good run for their money in all ramifications.